Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/421

APPENDIX 397 favor, called ^The Delaware Republican/ made its appear- ance in this village, under the editorial care and supervision of Elijah J. Roberts. Mr. Roberts, I think, in after years, acquired some distinction as editor of the Craftsman, published at Rochester, and devoted to Trades' Unions. The Republican came into existence as a Bucktail Republican newspaper; and among other duties assumed by the editor in his opening leader, is that of ' watching the movements of the Clintonian remnant through the stages of their present decline, till the memorable epoch shall arrive, when the political recreant who now fills the Executive chair, shall descend from his high elevation, and the places which now know his party, shall know them no more.' The severe charges made against his political opponents, and the harsh epithets applied to them, would neither be made against nor applied to the same per- sons, now that they and their acts have become historical; and we may properly learn from such retrospect, the propriety of moderating the intensity of our party feuds, and of skipping over the hard words we are accustomed to apply to those whose politics are of a different school from ours. Our political opponents, it is fair to presume, maintain their ' confession of faith with as much sincerity and honesty of purpose, as we do ours; and he who reads thirty years from now, the political articles of our time, will probably take note of our injustice, and illiberality to our political opponents. Mr. Roberts wishes ^^to impress upon the public mind the maxim, that abandon- ment of principles for temporary purposes, leads to ultimate defeat,' — a maxim carrying an important truth to the public mind ; and worthy of a place in a sermon as well as in a poli- tical article." The Republican was discontinued for want of adequate support. The party of which it was the advocate were in a decided minority in the county. The discontinuance of the Delaware Republican, was a marked epoch in the history of 34